Portable field-fence



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAS. G. HUNT, OF READING, OHIO.

PORTABLE FIELD-FENCE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 16,236, dated December 16, 1856; Ressued June 30, 1857, No. 474.

To all whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES G. HUNT, of Reading, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in the Construction of Portable Farm-Fences; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, exact, and complete description ot' the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, like letters referring to like parts.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction of a fence, composed of sections or panels, that can be taken down and put up at pleasure, without a great amount of labor, or waste of material.

Figure l, is a longitudinal view of the fence, showing two panels, and the manner of joining them. Figs. 2 and 3, are cross sections, showing the foot pieces, and the manner of bracing the fence. Fig. 4, is the longitudinal section of a joint.

In constructing this fence, I first take four boards or bars, say ten feet long, four or tive inches wide, and one inch thick, as seen at A1, A2, A3, A5, Figs. l, 2 and 3. These bars are placed at suit-able distances from each other, t-he three lower ones, say four or five inches apart, and the top bar A5, a distance of four or tive feet from the bottom of the bar A1, or equal to the height of the fence. Near each end of these, and upon each side, are placed slats, or upright pieces, in length equaling the height of the fence. These slats are seen at B, B, &c., in Figs. l, 2 3 and 4L. These slats are nailed to the bars A1 A2, A3, and A5, as represented. Two slats are placed in the middle, as seen at C, and secured in a similar manner, there being one upon each side. Between the bars A3, and A5, is placed the bar A4, which extends some l2 or l5 inches beyond the slats B, B, as seen at D, D, Figs. l and t. Where the bars A4, A4, pass between the slats O, they are secured by a nail or pin. This constitutes a panel ready for setting up. For a fence designed simply to turn cattle (oxen, cows, &c.) the bars A1, and A2, may be omitted, thus allowing smaller animals as sheep and swine, to pass from one inclosure to another, while larger animals would be restrained.

It' it is desirable to-make t-he panels of a more ornamental character, the bars A2,

A3 and A5 may be omitted, and upright pickets nailed to the bars A1 and A4. In either case, the bar A4, is inclined an amount equal to its own width, within the length of every panel, for purposes hereinafter described. A suiiicie-nt number of these panels being made to inclose a iield of given dimensions, they are to be distributed along the line of the fence, to be ready for use.

For the purpose of making a secure foundation, a stone or block ofwood may be used as seen at E, E, E, &c. If the ground is not exactly level, one block may be raised to suit the opposite one. I next take a sill F, which is formed of a piece of timber, say 1% inches thick, and from four to six feet long. This is notched in the middle upon the up per side as seen at Gr, Fig. 5, the end of the bar A1 being also notched as at I-I, Fig. 5, the ends of the two bars meeting at the center of the sill Gr.

The fence is supported in an upright position, by means of braces I, I, seen in Figs. 2 and 3, and in section at I Fig. 4. The braces are also represented in ,detached section, Figs. Q and 3. The upper end of these are notched as seen in the figures, so as to form a lock, both upon the upper and under sides or edges of the bars A4 and A5, as seen at K K Figs. 2 and 3. The lower end of these braces are nailed or pinned upon opposite sides of the sill F. In putting the panels together after these several preparations, the sills F, are placed upon their supports, and adjusted to a horizontal position, the two ends of a panel are then brought together, and the bars A4 A4, (which are depressed at one end exactly their own width, as shown in Fig. 1,) are passed between the slats B, B, until the two ends of the bars A1, A1, meet in the center of the notch in the sill as seen at Gr, in Fig. 5. The upper ends of the braces are then adjusted so as to it the bars as represented at K, K. The two panels are then secured by a pin or nail passing through the bars A4 at L, L, Figs. l and 4, thus preventing their separation. The foot of the braces are secured to the sill by a nail as above described, and the sill fastened in like manner to the block E.

In turning a corner or right angle, one of the long bars A4, passes between two slats with which a panel is provided for that purpose as seen at M, M, Fig. 1, and limmediately above or below the corresponding bar A, in the panel standing at right angles thereto, as seen at N, Fig. 1. The lower section of the panel is secured by means of a short bar, introduced between the bars A1 and A2, the end of which is seen at O, Fig. 1. An eXtra pair of slats can also be added as seen at P, Fig. 1 to one or both of which hinges for the hanging of a gate, can be attached as seen at R, R. By having the holes bored where the nails or pins enter the foot of t-he braces, at S, S, and also at L, L, N and O, this fence can be taken apart removed and put up again without inconvenience, loss of material or the loss of time. If, for the purposes of strength and durability, or for the sake of appearance, it is desirable, a board may be nailed flatwise upon the top of the fence, as represented in the figures at T, so as also to protect all the exposed ends of the timber.

In addition to the foregoing means of bracing and securing the fence, from a lat` eral movement, I also strengthen the midstill more secure, by using braces like those seen in Figs. 2 and 3, resting directly upon the ground or upon blocks as do the other braces. It will be observed, that braces constructed in this manner are adjustable to any part of the fence, and applicable to any height, and operate at the same time, as a tie, to bind the fence to the ground, as seen at K.

I claim- The compound triangular brace as shown and described for the uses and purposes set forth in combination with the projection of one or more rails in whole part of one section or panel beyond the slats or battens and between the slats or battens of the adjoining panel.

JAS. Gr. HUNT. Witnesses:

I. BRAINERD, J. LEONARD.

[FIRST PRINTED 1912.] 

